Process of applying indicia to cellophane and the like



Dec. 27, 1932. w. F.-GRUPE f 1,892,392

PROCESS OF APPLYING INDICIA TO CELLOPIl-.IANE AND VTHE LIKE Filed Nov.l1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet vl Til. le

William F Grup@ Keats.

ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1932.

W. F. GRUPE -PROCESS OF APPLYING-INDIGIA TO CELLOPHANE AND THE LIKEFiled Nov. lll 1950 3 Sheets-Shee. 2

1 INVENTOR W' llom F @rupe gli@ HIS A oRNEY Dec. 27, 1932. n W,v F,GRUPE 1,892,392.

PROCESS oF-APPLYING I-NDICIA To CELLQPHANE AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 1l.1930 3 Sheets-Sheet' 5 INVENTQR QRNEY n namupe Patented Dec. 27, 1932UNITED' STATES PATENT OFI-'lcs WILLI l'. GBUPE, OF LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEYPROCESS F APPLYING INDICIA T0 CELIOPHNE THE LIKE Application ledNovember 1l, 1930.l Serial-No. 494,839.

The invention relates to the process of roducing impressions in the formof la ls, bands or other indicia, embodying a meta-llized medium andusually one or more colors Y 5 on a web or individual strips ofcellophane or other material, such as cellulose acetate paper, glassinepaper, etc.

The invention is particularly adapted to cellophane in web form orindividual predetermined lengths, for enclosing cigars, 1n whichinstance of use the impression applied to the cellophane pursuant to myprocess may simulate a so-called cigar band, such indicia when appliedto the web being spaced in proper relation to one another and in properrelation to the edges of the cellophane strlp, whereby severedindividual lengths are adaptable to be fed to present day machines forenclosing individual cigars in so-called pockets of the cellophanematerial. However, my invention is not limited -tosuch specificapplications and may .be utilized for ap lying indicia of any desiredcharacter em odying a metallized medium.

Pursuant to my invention, the web of cellophane or other enclosingmaterlal 1s 1mpressed with indicia at definite spacing from one anotherand with respect to the edges of the web, the indicia embodying animpression including a met-allized medium and usually one orV morecolors. The desired color or colors are 'preferably applied byindividual printing rolls correspondmg to the number of the desiredcolors, which color impressions may be effected either before or after,or both before and after the step of applying the metallized medium.

The metallized medium is preferably applied by the use of a rotary roll,suitably driven, adapted to carry a die or set of dies, under propertemperature control, to which dies are applied in sequence a regulatedfilm of waxy or equivalent material, on which is imposed a regulatedlayer of the metallizing mediumpr media, whereby the desired indicia areimpressed upon the web at the desired b spacings relative to one anotherand relative to the'edges of the web. If desired, the ini0 dicia may bewholly or in part embossed, the

embossin operation being carried out preferably susequent to themetallizing step.

Further features and objects of the invention will be more fullyunderstood from the following detail description and the accompanydrawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a strip bearinan indiciain the form of a band applicable or enclosing cigars. Theindicated dimensions of the strip and the relative location of the bandare ap licable to a strip length for forming a, so-ca led pocket forindividual cigars. l

Fig. 2 is a plan view of an individual pocket with a cigar enclosedtherein in proper rela` 65 tion to the-indicated band.

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation through the material at the location ofthe applied band, showing the respectively imposed materials, I therelative thicknesses of the parts being exaggerated for the sake ofclarity.

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 3 showing amodification. v

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view in central elevation, partly 1n centralvertical section, 75 illustrating certain essential steps of myinvention.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation', in diagrammatic form, illustrating myinvention for the a plication of indicia such as band labels for 0cigars orthe like, embodying one or more co ors in addition tometallized impressions,

a plied to an indefinite strip Vlength or the lie at predeterminedspacing.

Fig. 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the 85 mechanism for applyingmetallized impressions..

Referring' to Figs. 1 and 2, the cellophane or other material islindicated at 10, the indicated dimensions of the sheet 4corresponding 90to that of a severed length cut from a web. The indicia 11 in thisinstance is in similitude of a cigar band by reason of the article to beenclosed being a cigar, the impression band being disposed at properspacing from the opposite edges 12, 13 andl 14, 15, the edge 12 elngproximate the butt end of the cigar,'the edge 13 being proximate thepoint of the cigar, the edges 14, 415 being folded in overlappingrelation to one another at the back 30 serving to supply of the cigar,it being understood that the ends of the resulting pocket are foldedupon one another to provide for full or substantially full sealing ofthe pocket, with or without the use of sealing or other adhesive.

In the particular indicia 11, shown in the form as simulating a band,the metallic medium, which may be genuine or imitation gold, genuinesilver or its imitation, or other desired metallic medium as indicatedat 16. This particular indicia may also include two colors, say red andblack, as at 17 and 18.

The colors such as 17 and 18, of any desired number and desiredlocations, are applied to the material either before or after theapplication of the metallic 'medium or media.

Fig. 3 shows in diagrammatic cross-section, the cellophane at 10, theundermost layer of sizing, such as shellac at 18, the superposedmetallic medium, such as bronze, at 19, and the outermost layer, such aswax or other suitable unctuous material, at 20. In such instance thelayer 18 serves as the initial bonding medium, the bronze or othermetallic medium being superposed upon the same.

As appears more fully hereinafter, the indicia bears suitable trade orother name or names effected by means of suitable dies or sets of dies,the dies being heated to proper elevated temperature afforded by meansof an electrical resistance unit or other suitable controlled heatingmeans.

Fig. 4 corresponds to Fig. 3, except that the initial bonding layer 18is omitted, the bonding of the metallic medium 19 and superposed waxmedium 20 being effected directly upon the material. Like parts areindicated by like reference numbers.

I have illustrated in Fig. 5 in diagrammatic form, one manner ofapplying the metallic medium or media to a web of cellophane or otherenclosing material. v

At 21 is indicated a supply roll, the web 22 of which is passed throughthe indicated guiding and operating parts and rewound if desired in theform of a roll as indicated at The dies 24, orv set of such dies, aremounted on a suitable printing roll 25, the shaft 26 of which issuitably driven in the direction of the indicated arrow 27. At 28 isrepresented a bath 29 of suitable waxy or other unctuous composition,kept fluid by suitable heating means (not shown), the roll the waxymaterial from the bath 29 to the face of a die 24 when in engagementwith the supply roll 30.v At 31 I indicate a wiping roll and at 32 adoctor in the form of a wiping plate, whereby to regulate the film uponthe effective surface of the supply roll 30, rotated in the direction ofthe indicated arrow 33.

It will be understood that the individual dies 24 or the p1 inting roll25 itself may be suitably heated to the proper temperature, as by meansof electrical resistance, referred t0 l hereinafter, whereby the film ofthe unctuous material supplied to the face of each die during the stageof engagement by the supply roll 30 is maintained in proper conditionfor the'completion of the operation.

At 34 is diagrammatically indicated a suitable bronzing machine orequivalent for su plying bronze or other desired metallic me ium appliedto the die as a layer superimposed upon the waxy composition. In thisinstance I have indicated at 35 the use of a single lnetallizing medium,such as bronze, contained in the hopper 36, at the discharge end ofwhich is disposed a supply brush 37 suitably rotated in the direction ofthe indicated arrow 38. At 39 is represented suitable means for removingany excess of metallic medium and diagrammatically illustrated ascomprising the wiping brush 40 disposed at the mlet opening of theconduit 41 provided with the indicated exhaust fan 42, the recoveredmetallic medium being collected through the discharge outlet 43.

The pairs of rolls 44, 44, and 45, 45, serve as guide rolls, one or bothof which may be directly driven to serve as feeding rolls, the pair ofrolls 45, 45, being preferably arranged to act as pull rolls.

Coacting with the printing roll 25 is arranged animpression roll 46,driven -in the direction of the applied arrow, having a surface ofleather, paper, or other suitable resilient material, thereby to deriveimpressions corresponding to the outlines of the dies 24.

At 47 I have indicated a wiping roll rotated in the direction of theindicated arrow to clean the dies 24 after each impression operation,the removed material being recovered through the exhaust conduit 47Accordingly, u on contact of the one or more dies 24 carried by theprinting roll 25 with the face of the web 22, the metallized medium isdeposited and bonded to the web face in correspondence to the outlinesof the configuration of the die faces, that is to say, with thelettering, wording, symbols, inner and outer outlines, etc., of therespective dies ortions, as may be desired.

W ere an initial bonding Amedium is desired or required, such bondingmedium may be applied by the use of a roll 50 driven 1n the direction ofthe' indicated arrow, and provided with a protuberance 51 correspondingat its effective face to each die 24, the desired initial bondingmedium, such as shellac -or other sizing, etc., being provided by meansof a receptacle 52 and a supply roll 53, driven in the direction of theindicated arrow, whereby such sizing or other initial bonding materialis applied upon the face of the web in advance of and in proper registerwith the subsequently app ied metallic impression. The roll 54 coactswith the protuberance 51 of the\roll 50 in the nature of an impressionroll.

I have iplso indica-ted at 78 suitable means for applying the sizing orother adhesive, in lieu ofthe roll 50, the sizing in this instance beingapplied upon the met-allie medium on each die. The film of the adhesivethus applied is supplied by the roll 79, driven 1n the indicateddirectlon and provided with a be effected by ilmre ulting roll anddoctor, similarly as in tefapplicationof the waxy film.

If desired, the unit 51 may apply a medium serving to soften lorotherwise prepare the surface of the web for the reception of theimpressed material and unit 78 may supply a protective medium such ascellulose acetate.

In many instances it is desirable to emboss the applied metallicimpression, which ma the use of the embossing ro l 5 5 indicated asdisposed subsequent to the ing a plurality of colors printing roll 25;the roll 55 is provided with y an embossing protuberance 56 .and isdriven in the direction of the indicated arrow 57.

The roll has a cooperating impression roll 58, effective spacing of theem ossing protuberance 56 being regulated to register with the whole ora part of the metallic or other 1m ression desired to be embossed.

n Fig. 6 there is dia rammaticall shown a preferred sequence o operationo applyas well as metallic medium to the web. The metallizing unit isindicated at 60, the constituent parts conforming generally tothat-illustrated in Fig. 5 and corres ondingly identified by referencenumbers. he sup ly reel is indicated at 61 and after passing t rough theindicated sets of guides and feed rolls, the web 62 is passed throughthe first color printing unit 63, thence to a second color printing unit64, thence past the metal impression unit, thence .a third color unit65, fourth color unit 66, etc.,

die of the metallizing unit 60, appropriately metal impressionunit, aswell as for the rether understood that a unit for to the desiredoutlines of theI constituent parts forming the total' indicia, 1t bemgfurapplyilgg the initial bonding material is employed 1nadvance of themetallizin unit and also a unit' for embossing, similar y as is setforth-1n the embodiment of my process as illustrated in Fig. 5.

pressions in multip e acrossthe web, for the spective printing, 'initialbonding unit and e embossing unit. Y Fig. 7 illustrates multiple dies 67arranged in alignment with one another onl the perlphery of theprint-ing rollf25, and-similarly asin the arrangement of Fig. 5, thedies may be distributed about the peripheral surface of the printingroll 25.

in from. the yspirit My process is applicable also to eect im- Fig. 7also illustrates the use of electrically heated resistances for therespective dies, the indicated electrical conductors, the brushes 70,71, commutators which are connected of the electrical heating units.

Suitable means are provided for the synchronous drive of the respectiveprinting, metallizing, bonding and embossing units, etc., as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art.

It is preferable to sever the web of cellophane or other enclosingmaterial longitudinall of its length, which may be carrled out by t 1erovision of. sets of 75, see ig. 6, and individual re-wind devices 76for the respective longitudinally severed strips, which re-winddevices`76 preferably wind the longitudinal strips 77 with the axis yinvertical position, as indicated in Fi 6.

The individual longitudinal strips of cellophane or other enclosingmaterial bearing the indicia at longitudinal spacing therein are nowapplicable for use in wrapping machines of present day construction,employing cellophane, cellulose acetate paper, etc.; usually the web issevered alon desired predetermined tranverse lines to gorm theindividual lengths for the individual pockets for cigars, suitabletreatment of the web'or longitudinal severed strips thereof beingcarried outfor other articles as may be desired, the location of theindicia on each individual strip conforming to proper position of thesame when the enclosing material has been enwrapped about the article.

The strips of enclosing material may also.A

serial No. 471,931, filed July applicable for im ressing labels andwraps 1n web and in ividual len hs, in a similar manner. y

ereas, I have described my invention by reference .to Aspecificformations thereof, it will be understood that many changes andmodifications may be made without departof the invention. claim. 1.. Theprocess of im and like enclosing material with indicla emying metallizedmedium in an outline corf lespondingto the die, s parting substantiallycontinuous motion to the material and the die, applying unctuousmaterial to the die while in motion, then ap-v plying metallized mediumuponthe layer of unctuous material on the die while in nio- Vtion, andthen applying the die thus pre- `pared in impressing contact withthematerial.

2. The process of impressing cellophane which comprises imand likeenclosing material with indicia'em- 72, 73, to the bars ofthe individualleads 74 rotating knives 75,

pressing cellophane in thecopending application of Arthur i lso inmotion, and then bodying metallzed medium in an outline correspon ing tothe die, which comprises imparting substantially continuous motion tothe material and the die, applying heated unctuous material to the dieWhile in motion, then applying metallized medium upon the layer ofheated unctuous material on thedie While in motion, and then applyingthe die thus prepared in impressing contact under elevated temperatureconditions with the material.

3. The process of impressing cellophane and like enclosing material withembossedindicia embodying metallized medium in an outline correspondingto the die, which comprises imparting substantially continuous motion tothe material and the die, applying unctuous material to the die While inmotion, then applying metallized medium upon the layer of unctuousmaterialon the die While applying the die thus prepared in impressingcontact with the material, and then embossing the applied impression.

4. The process of impressing cellophane and like enclosing material withindicla embodying metallized medium in an outline corresponding to thedie, which comprises imparting substantially continuous motion to thematerial and the die, applying suitable bonding medium upon the materialand applying unctuous material to the die While in motion, then applyingmetallized medium upon the layer of unctuous material on the die Whilein motion, die thus prepared in impressing contact wlth the material.

5. The process of impressing cellophane and like enclosing material withindicia embodying metallized medium in an outline corresponding to thedie, which comprises imparting substantially continuous motlon to thematerial and the die, applying unctuous material to the die While inmotion, then applying metallized medium upon the layer of unctuousmaterial on the die While in motion, and then applying the die thus'prepared in impressing contact at predetermined spacings longitudinallyof a Web of the material.

6. The process of impressing cellophane and like enclosing material withindicia embodying metallized medium in an outline corresponding to thedie, which comprises imparting substantially continuous motion to thematerial and the die, applying heated unctuous material to the die whilein motion,

then applying metallized medium upon the layer of heated unctuousmaterial on the die While in motion and then applying the die thusprepared inA impressing contact at predetermined yspacingslongitudinally of a yweb.

of the material.

7. 'Ihe process of impressing cellophanev and like enclosing materialwith indicia c mbodying metallized medium 1n an outline and thenapplying the corresponding to the die, which comprises impartingsubstantiall continuous motion to the material and the ie, applyingunctuous material to the die While in motion, then applying metallizedmedium upon the layer of unctuous material on the die while in motion,and then applying the die thus prepared in impressing contact atpredetermined spacings longitudinally and transversely of a web of thematerial.

8. The process of impressing cellophane and like enclosing material withindicia embodying metallized medium in an outline corresponding to thedie, Which comprises imparting substantially continuous motion to thematerial and the die, applying heated unctuous material to the die Whilein motion, then applying metallized medium upon the layer of heatedunctuous material on the die While in motion, and then applying the diethus prepared in impressing contact at predetermined spacingslongitudinally and transversely of a Web of the material.

9. The process of impressing material with indicia embodying impressingmedium in an outline corresponding to the die, Which comprises impartingsubstantially continuous motion to the material and the die, applyingunctuous material to the die While in motion, then applying impressingmedium upon the layer of unctuous material on the die While in motion,and then applying the die thus prepared in impressing contact with thematerial.

10. The process of impressing material with indicia embodying impressingmedium in an outline corresponding to the die, which comprises impartingsubstantially continuous motion to the material and the die, applyingheated unctuous material to the die While in motion, then applyingimpressing medium upon the layer of heated unctuous material on the dieWhile in motion, and then applying the die thus prepared in impressingcontact under elevated temperature conditions with the material.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specication this 7th day ofNovember, 1930.

